Protective Device, And Assembly Of The Protective Device And A Notebook Computer

ABSTRACT

A protective device is used to contain a notebook computer, and includes a first cover body, a second cover body, a closure component, and a circuit board. The second cover body is coupled to the first cover body, and cooperates with the first cover body to define a containing space for containing the notebook computer. The second cover body is movable relative to the first cover body between a closing position and an open position. The closure component is disposed between the first and the second cover bodies, and is operable to retain the second cover body at the closing position relative to the first cover body. The circuit board is disposed in the containing space, is adapted to electrically connect with the notebook computer, and includes a plurality of transmission interfaces for transmission of one of data and signals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 097207465, filed on Apr. 30, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a protective device, and an assembly of the protective device and a notebook computer, more particularly to a protective device adapted for containing a notebook computer, and an assembly of the protective device and a notebook computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional notebook computer 1 having a slim design. In accordance with the slim design, a length and a width of each side edge 111 of a body section 11 of the conventional notebook computer 1 are cut down, resulting in a corresponding reduction in volume of a containing space 112 within the body section 11. The above-described size reductions have an adverse effect of limiting the area over which various quantities and types of transmission interfaces such as Universal Serial Bus ports 12, card readers, or audio-visual transmission interfaces can be installed. In particular, due to the shortened length of the side edges 111, a large quantity of transmission interfaces cannot be mounted directly in the side edges 111. Similarly, it is not possible to mount directly larger devices such as optical disk drives or CD burners due to the reduced volume of the containing space 112. Therefore, devices designed to connect externally must be selected for use with the conventional notebook computer 1.

The selection of transmission interfaces available to a user during operation of the conventional notebook computer 1 is thus limited. Moreover, when carrying the conventional notebook computer 1 for outdoor use, it is necessary to carry an external optical disk drive, CD burner, etc. as well, and set up the aforesaid devices prior to use, which is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a protective device that is adapted for containing a notebook computer and that is capable of providing the notebook computer with a variety of transmission interfaces for convenient use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer. The protective device is adapted for containing the notebook computer and is capable of providing the notebook computer with a variety of transmission interfaces for convenient use.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective device adapted for containing a notebook computer. The protective device comprises a first cover body, a second cover body, a closure component, and a circuit board.

The second cover body is coupled to the first cover body, and cooperates with the first cover body to define a containing space adapted for containing the notebook computer. The second cover body is movable relative to the first cover body between a closing position and an open position. The closure component is disposed between the first and the second cover bodies, and is operable to retain the second cover body at the closing position relative to the first cover body. The circuit board is disposed in the containing space, is adapted to electrically connect with the notebook computer, and includes a plurality of transmission interfaces for transmission of one of data and signals.

In an embodiment of the invention, the notebook computer includes a first electrical connector, the circuit board further includes a second electrical connector, and the protective device further comprises a transmission line adapted to electrically connect the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first cover body has an inner surface, and includes a plurality of positioning belts mounted to the inner surface for retaining the circuit board in the containing space.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second cover bodies are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second cover bodies are made of a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers.

In an embodiment of the invention, the closure component is a zipper.

In an embodiment of the invention, the transmission interfaces include at least one of an expansion slot, a plurality of Universal Serial Bus port, a S-Video port, a card reader, a PCMCIA slot, an audio line-in port, an audio line-out port, a microphone port, a HDMI port, an RJ11 connector, an RJ45 connector, and an audio-video transmission port.

Since the protective device of the present invention includes a circuit board equipped with the plurality of transmission interfaces, the protective device can provide a notebook computer having a slim design with a variety of transmission interfaces for convenient use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional notebook computer having a slim design;

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a protective device according to the present invention, showing a second cover body in a closing position relative to a first cover body;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment viewed from another angle;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, showing an arrangement of transmission interfaces on a circuit board; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the second cover body in an open position relative to the first cover body, and a transmission line electrically connecting a notebook computer to the circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a protective device 300 according to the present invention. The protective device 300 is adapted for containing a notebook computer 2 having a slim design. In this embodiment, the protective device 300 is a protective box. However, the protective device 300 can be a protective bag or case.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the protective device 300 is shown to comprise a first cover body 3, a second cover body 4, a closure component 5, and a circuit board 6.

In this embodiment, the first and second cover bodies 3,4 are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials. A rear side of the first cover body 3 and a rear side of the second cover body 4 are coupled together. The second cover body 4 cooperates with the first cover body 3 to define a containing space 31 adapted for containing the notebook computer 2 and the circuit board 6. Preferably, the first cover body 3 has an inner surface, and includes four spaced apart positioning belts 32 mounted to corner portions of the inner surface for retaining the circuit board 6 in the containing space 31. The second cover body 4 is movable relative to the first cover body 3 between a closing position and an open position.

When the second cover body 4 is in the closing position relative to the first cover body 3, the first and second cover bodies 3,4, being made from the explosion-proof material, are able to provide protection to the notebook computer 2 contained in the containing space 31. However, the material from which the first and second cover bodies 3,4 are made is not limited to what is described above, and can be a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers such as Kevlar® in accordance with user requirements.

In this embodiment, the closure component 5 is a zipper disposed between right, left, and front sides of the first and second cover bodies 3,4 and operable to retain the second cover body 4 at the closing position relative to the first cover body 3.

The circuit board 6, as previously mentioned, is disposed in the containing space 31, and includes a board body 61, and a plurality of transmission interfaces installed on a bottom side of the board body 61 for transmission of data or signals. The transmission interfaces arranged along a right side of the board body 61, proceeding from front to back of the board body 61, include the following: a PCMIA slot 62, a plurality of Universal Serial Bus connector 63, an audio line-in port 64, an audio line-out port 65, a microphone port 66, a HDMI port 67, an RJ11 connector 68, an RJ45 connector 69, and an audio-video transmission port 70. The transmission interfaces arranged along a left side of the board body 61, proceeding from front to back of the board body 61, include the following: a card reader 71, an S-Video port 72, two USB ports 63, and an expansion slot 73. In this embodiment, the PCMIA slot 62 can be used to provide a PCMIA standard interface to an inserted card. The card reader 71 is a many-in-one type card reader that can read electronic cards of different standards, such as an SD card, a MMC card, a CF card, an MD card, an SM card, an MS card, and an XD card. The expansion slot 73 can be used for mounting an optical disk drive, a CD burner, a hard disk, a battery, or a communication module of the notebook computer 2.

In this embodiment, the notebook computer 2 includes a first electrical connector 210 installed on a left side edge 211 of a body section 21, the circuit board 6 further includes a second electrical connector 74 installed at a back of the board body 61 to the rear side of the expansion slot 73, and the protective device 300 further comprises a transmission line 8. The transmission line 8 is adapted to electrically connect the second electrical connector 74 to the first electrical connector 210. Through the transmission line 8, the notebook computer 2 is able to electrically connect with each of the transmission interfaces of the circuit board 6.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, when it is desired to use the notebook computer 2, the closure component 5 is first operated to release the second cover body 4 from the first cover body 3. The second cover body 4 can then be moved from the closing position, as shown in FIG. 2, to the open position, in which the second cover body 4 can be tilted backward as shown in FIG. 6. The notebook computer 2 is then revealed to be situated on top of the board body 61 of the circuit board 6, and the first electrical connector 210 of the notebook computer 2 is electrically connected to the second electrical connector 74 of the circuit board 6 through the transmission line 8. After the display panel 22 of the notebook computer 2 is tilted back, the notebook computer 2 can be used.

Referring to FIG. 4, since the notebook computer 2 has the slim design, lengths and widths of the left side edge 211, a right side edge 212, a front side edge 213, and a rear side edge 214 of the body section 21, are cut down. As a result, a volume of a containing space (not shown) within the body section 21 is reduced. The above-described size reductions limit the area over which transmission interfaces can be installed in the notebook computer 2, consequently limiting a selection of transmission interfaces available to the user. However, the user is able to access a quantity and variety of transmission interfaces through the circuit board 6 of the protective device 300 of the present invention. Moreover, the expansion slot 73 included in the plurality of transmission interfaces allows for direct mounting of larger devices such as optical disk drives, CD burners, or hard disks, thereby eliminating the need to carry and set up the aforesaid devices, resulting in greater convenience. It should be noted that the type and standard of the transmission interfaces can be varied according to requirements, and are not limited to what are described herein.

In sum, since the protective device 300 of the present invention includes a circuit board 6 equipped with the plurality of transmission interfaces, the protective device 300 can provide a notebook computer 2 having the slim design with a variety of transmission interfaces for convenient use.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A protective device adapted for containing a notebook computer, said protective device comprising: a first cover body; a second cover body coupled to said first cover body, cooperating with said first cover body to define a containing space adapted for containing the notebook computer, and movable relative to said first cover body between a closing position and an open position; a closure component disposed between said first and said second cover bodies and operable to retain said second cover body at the closing position relative to said first cover body; and a circuit board disposed in said containing space, adapted to electrically connect with the notebook computer, and including a plurality of transmission interfaces for transmission of one of data and signals.
 2. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, the notebook computer including a first electrical connector, wherein said circuit board further includes a second electrical connector, and said protective device further comprises a transmission line adapted to electrically connect said second electrical connector to the first electrical connector.
 3. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cover body has an inner surface, and includes a plurality of positioning belts mounted to said inner surface for retaining said circuit board in said containing space.
 4. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials.
 5. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers.
 6. The protective device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first cover body has an inner surface, and includes a plurality of positioning belts mounted to said inner surface for retaining said circuit board in said containing space.
 7. The protective device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials.
 8. The protective device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers.
 9. The protective device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said closure component is a zipper.
 10. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission interfaces include at least one of an expansion slot, a plurality of Universal Serial Bus port, a S-Video port, a card reader, a PCMCIA slot, an audio line-in port, an audio line-out port, a microphone port, a HDMI port, an RJ11 connector, an RJ45 connector, and an audio-video transmission port.
 11. An assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer, comprising: a notebook computer; and a protective device for containing said notebook computer, said protective device including a first cover body, a second cover body coupled to said first cover body, cooperating with said first cover body to define a containing space for containing said notebook computer, and movable relative to said first cover body between a closing position and an open position, a closure component disposed between said first and said second cover bodies and operable to retain said second cover body at the closing position relative to said first cover body, and a circuit board disposed in said containing space, electrically connected to said notebook computer, and including a plurality of transmission interfaces for transmission of one of data and signals.
 12. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said notebook computer includes a first electrical connector, said circuit board further includes a second electrical connector, and said protective device further includes a transmission line for electrically connecting said second electrical connector to said first electrical connector.
 13. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first cover body has an inner surface, and includes a plurality of positioning belts mounted to said inner surface for retaining said circuit board in said containing space.
 14. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials.
 15. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers.
 16. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first cover body has an inner surface, and includes a plurality of positioning belts mounted to said inner surface for retaining said circuit board in said containing space.
 17. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of an explosion-proof material selected from industrial plastic materials, aluminum alloy materials, and stainless steel materials.
 18. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and said second cover bodies are made of a bulletproof material containing aromatic polyamide fibers.
 19. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein said closure component is a zipper.
 20. The assembly of a protective device and a notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said transmission interfaces include at least one of an expansion slot, a plurality of Universal Serial Bus ports, a S-Video port, a card reader, a PCMCIA slot, an audio line-in port, an audio line-out port, a microphone port, a HDMI port, an RJ11 connector, an RJ45 connector, and an audio-video transmission port. 